Hauling long load: tailgate position?

[Cromwell]

I have to truck some 10' long aluminum fascia pieces about 70 miles. I have a long enough support for underneath the pieces plus a hitch extender. Is it better to carry this load flat or should I move the tailgate to 45° ?

Sponsored

 

[The Real Maverick]

I have to truck some 10' long aluminum fascia pieces about 70 miles. I have a long enough support for underneath the pieces plus a hitch extender. Is it better to carry this load flat or should I move the tailgate to 45° ?

Flat assuming it all fits between the wheel wells.

 

[Exranger]

Flat and tie down at front of bed too.

 

[Maverick2022XL]

Carry it flat with the extender to keep the fascia from bending. Tie down front and back and if required by law where you are tie a red piece of fabric or plastic to the fascia overhanging the tailgate.

 

[Maverickman74]

If its thin aluminum sheet metal and you 100% dont want to damage it and also have or have a need for a 10' board or any type. Buy or bring one along. That will keep the sheet metal form getting a kink in it. Ideally the best position would be tailgate flat. Make a X pattern with the tie downs in the front and rear of the bed and also do a single strap (with a loop around the material as long as it wont damage it) across the tailgate to the "bottle opener" tie downs.

 

[Cromwell]

Thank you all! Very helpful!

 

[5GallonCan]

I have to truck some 10' long aluminum fascia pieces about 70 miles. I have a long enough support for underneath the pieces plus a hitch extender. Is it better to carry this load flat or should I move the tailgate to 45° ?

How I did it with 10 pieces of 10 ft. long 2x6 lumber and a Harbor Freight hitch extender. I use 1/4" rope and trucker's hitch for strapping down loads. The extender was positioned just high enough that the 2x10s were kissing the tailgate, but not pressing down on it. I had the front end of the boards resting on a horizontal 2x6 laying flat in the slots Ford made for this purpose. I like a little elevation of the load from the tie-downs when cinching things tight. Nice and snug.

 

[Master Blaster]

Lay them flat. Whether you have the tailgate all the way down and the load flat on the floor, or up at the part-closed position with the boards across the bed slots will depend upon how wide they are. Using the tailgate part-way up and not on the cross-boards will put a lot of bending forces on the load, and unnecessary forces on the top of the tailgate. Either way, tie them down properly. With about 4ft hanging out the back, you are probably going to need an extender on the hitch or less flexible boards under it and a big red flag on the end.

 

[themartymac]

If its thin aluminum sheet metal and you 100% dont want to damage it and also have or have a need for a 10' board or any type. Buy or bring one along. That will keep the sheet metal form getting a kink in it. Ideally the best position would be tailgate flat. Make a X pattern with the tie downs in the front and rear of the bed and also do a single strap (with a loop around the material as long as it wont damage it) across the tailgate to the "bottle opener" tie downs.

Yup, and if it's a big haul or multiple trips of stock, one could throw together a 'saw horse' style carrier to clear the roof with some 2x4s or similar - doesn't have to be this heavy duty for a temp job, but as an example:

 

[Cancunbadlands]

Flat

Sponsored